Customer Reviews for The Bad Seeds

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Average rating:

4.9

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5

(20 Reviews) 20

Rating Snapshot(20 reviews)

5 stars

18

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20 of 20(100%)reviewers would recommend this to a friend.

The Bad Seeds Fan Reviews - Ticketmaster

Review 1 for The Bad Seeds

5/5

Nick Cave and the bad seeds at Hammersmith

Eventim Apollo @

- London @

- Mon 28 Oct 2013 @

Favourite moment: Red right hand @

Opening act(s): Shilppa Ray, such a powerful voice and great lyrics. @

Posted 04/11/2013

by Spencc

Great, great night.We arrived really early to get to the barrier.Staff were really nice, especially the man putting out the barriers who looked after our stuff and made sure we were under cover during the rain.

Nick was fantastic, as usual. Brilliant performance, full of passion, excitement and great songs.

Eventim Apollo @

- London @

- Mon 28 Oct 2013 @

Favourite moment: Red right hand @

Opening act(s): Shilppa Ray, such a powerful voice and great lyrics. @

A great night.We arrived very early to get to the barrier.Staff were really helpful and friendly.Barrier security man was really nice, he answered our questions about entrance and the lay out of the building.

Nick just gets better every time I see him. A wonderful night of passionate music in a great venue with a nice crowd.

Nick Cave released 'Henry's Dream' in 1992 but, although this was album that kickstarted my love for him and his band, I didn't see him on that tour, mainly because I didn't get the album until the following Christmas!

It's a fine sounding album to my ears but Nick didn't like the production apparently, so he released an album from that tour called 'Live Seeds', which he felt better represented the songs. It is a truly amazing live album. And then he did another tour - 'The Tin Tour, I believe - to promote the live album and that, some time late on in 1994, is the first time I saw him play live.

I've seen Nick many, many times since and through numerous line-ups of the Bad Seeds. On balance, I think the touring band for 'Let Love In' was my all time favourite but it's true to say that every incarnation has had its merits, even if I do still miss Blixa Bargeld.

Last night I went to see them again at the O2 Apollo in Manchester. My regular #gigbuddy is off sunning herself somewhere far away but, fortunately, the subs' bench is of a remarkably high calibre and so I gave The Minx's ticket to Dom.

A more time consuming than anticipated drive up from London left me with no time to change out of my suit and I didn't take an umbrella on the train to Manchester, so I was ill-prepared for the deluge at Piccadilly where I met Dom. As I was running later than planned there was no time for a drink and we headed through the relentless rain to the Apollo. And so it was that I arrived looking like a Bad Seed that had been left out in the rain and feeling unnaturally sober.

Still, there was time to enjoy a couple of drinks in the bar before heading up to our seats, which were in the back row of the circle, right at the outside edge. Now, this wasn't the disaster it might have been since the sound turned out to be superb, plus the wooden barrier behind us proved an excellent place to steady my camera.

And so to the music: the band came on and launched into 'We No Who U R', the opening track from the new album, 'Push The Sky Away'. It was a slowish start, although the band sounded in fine form, but Nick only seemed to begin to hit his stride with the next track, 'Jubilee Street', which built up to a raucous crescendo in the fine and well established Seeds fashion.

A roll of thunder and we were into 'Tupelo', a huge favourite of mine, not to mention a complete surprise, so at this point I knew that this would be a memorable gig for me, even if it was rubbish from then on. But it wasn't: 'Right Right Hand' (Dom's favourite); 'Papa Won't Leave You, Henry'; 'Mermaids'; and a second big surprise in the form of 'From Her To Eternity', which served to demonstrate that right from the earliest part of his career Nick had a way with words and their delivery.

A rather slow section followed - 'West Country Girl' (meh), 'God Is In The House', 'People Ain't No Good' and 'Into My Arms' - before affairs picked up and we enjoyed a riproaring couplet of 'Hiding All Away' and 'The Mercy Seat'. 'Stagger Lee', next, was all right; I love the song but the new 'loungey' version doesn't do it for me. (The best version I ever saw was at Glastonbury in 1998: the final, apocalyptic section, containing Blixa's truly blood-curdling scream, is the only time in my adult life when I think I have ever been truly, completely 'in the moment'.) And then the main set closed with a haunting version of 'Push The Sky Away', which came to shimmering life in a way that isn't quite managed on the album.

I'm not a fan of the whole encore business but the wait was short enough before the band returned to deliver 'We Real Cool', a blistering 'Jack The Ripper' and, a final surprise, the old live favourite 'Deanna'. That would have been a great place to finish, I think, but then we were treated to a new song, 'Give Us A Kiss', the first part of which was, basically, Nick at the piano. However, any feeling of disappointment was abated by the second half in which Nick moved from the piano and the Bad Seeds took up the melody and carried it to a delicate and minimal close.

And a final word about this line up of the Bad Seeds, who now lack Mick Harvey, Nick's musical companion and sometime de facto musical director since The Birthday Party days. It was nice to see former Bad Seeds bassist Barry Adamson helping out with keyboards and percussion, and new boy George Vjestica was great on guitar. Long serving Seeds Conway Savage (piano) and Martyn P Casey (bass) were as understated yet essential as ever, while Warren Ellis (violin and anything else that comes to hand) was as extraordinary and entertaining as ever.

My final mention, though, must go to Jim Sclavunos on the drums, whom I've always found a bit leaden compared with (in my mind) proper drummer Thomas Wydler. However, Wydler is unwell and so Sclavunos is playing all the drums for this tour. From the back of the hall I didn't realise this until he stood up - he's very tall - and up until that point I'd thought how well Wydler was playing.

Whether you think you like Nick Cave or not, I'd highly recommend you see him live with the Bad Seeds if you can; they are an amazing live proposition. But then, as you can tell from the above, I would say that!

Intense

Unreal. Very intense, not for the feint hearted, but then what do you expect from Nick Cave? Utterly compelling, no room for sentimentality.

Usher Hall @

- Edinburgh @

- Fri 1 Nov 2013 @

Favourite moment: All @

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Review 5 for The Bad Seeds

5/5

Nick Cave rocks it like a boss

Barrowland @

- Glasgow @

- Thu 31 Oct 2013 @

Favourite moment: Nick's banter with the, sometimes raucous, crowd. 30 years in the industry, he is unflappable. @

Posted 04/11/2013

by Shams

Location:Scotland

Ok, so combine Nick Cave and the Barrowlands on a Halloween night and really, what can you get except for AMAZING. The acoustics were right on, the playing with old, familiar songs to make them sound new, the dusting-off of songs not heard fro years, the songs from the new album all imbued with Mr Cave's dancing, the band's passion and the theatrical lighting made it yet another unforgettable gig. I got a copy of the playlist from the the very nice crew and left with the ringing ears, sore feet and sweaty clothes of a woman well-pleased with the night.

Barrowland @

- Glasgow @

- Thu 31 Oct 2013 @

Favourite moment: Nick's banter with the, sometimes raucous, crowd. 30 years in the industry, he is unflappable. @

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Review 6 for The Bad Seeds

5/5

Nick and the boys deliver yet again

O2 Apollo Manchester @

- Manchester @

- Wed 30 Oct 2013 @

Favourite moment: All of it @

Opening act(s): rubbish - went to the bar @

Posted 04/11/2013

by MickDoodle

Location:Nottingham

Wow. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds just never let up. What a gig from the opening Push The Sky Away, through the classics Red Right Hand, Stagger Lee and God Is In The House it's non-stop entertainment. Warren Ellis is still the coolest man on the planet.

O2 Apollo Manchester @

- Manchester @

- Wed 30 Oct 2013 @

Favourite moment: All of it @

Opening act(s): rubbish - went to the bar @

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Review 7 for The Bad Seeds

5/5

nick cave and the bad seeds at glasgow barrowlands

Barrowland @

- Glasgow @

- Thu 31 Oct 2013 @

Favourite moment: every second nick was on stage @

Opening act(s): mmmm...not bad @

Posted 03/11/2013

by felinefriend

Location:clydebank

wow amazing!!!!!nick was outta this world,fantastic live what a music legend...best live gig i have ever been too.cannt wait to see him again.....im in looooove !!!

Barrowland @

- Glasgow @

- Thu 31 Oct 2013 @

Favourite moment: every second nick was on stage @

Opening act(s): mmmm...not bad @

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Review 8 for The Bad Seeds

5/5

O2 Apollo Manchester @

- Manchester @

- Wed 30 Oct 2013 @

Posted 02/11/2013

by TheSheilaE

Location:Preston Lancs

Fabulous night Nick Cave and the band on top form. The only slightly annoying aspect is that Nick appears to think the audience doesn't exist beyond the front few rows. He spent so long there us at the back couldn't see him for half of the concert.Having said that we still wouldn't have missed it for the world.

O2 Apollo Manchester @

- Manchester @

- Wed 30 Oct 2013 @

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Review 9 for The Bad Seeds

5/5

Nick cave & the bad seeds

O2 Apollo Manchester @

- Manchester @

- Wed 30 Oct 2013 @

Posted 02/11/2013

by aussiej1

Outstanding, first saw the badseeds back in Australia in1985. Been watching there shows for a long time, this last show was a knock out. Nick sings such a challenging song book with such apparent ease, the band was tight, the Apollo for the 30th October was the hot spot. We really cool

O2 Apollo Manchester @

- Manchester @

- Wed 30 Oct 2013 @

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Review 10 for The Bad Seeds

4/5

The Best Front Man in town

O2 Apollo Manchester @

- Manchester @

- Wed 30 Oct 2013 @

Posted 02/11/2013

by PEJSP

Location:Kendal

I've waited a long time to see NC and the BS. And they didn't disappoint an iota. Nick Cave was in dominant form, towering over the awestruck audience like a gothic spider. Full of vengeance one moment to love struck angst, they played most of the new album, beautiful and intimate with the exception of Jubilee Street when Warren wound the band up faster and faster to a heart racing crescendo. A moment where a band cannot have been tighter. A musical moment to be treasured. And then the brutal Stagger Lee, with bullets blinding the captivated audience...Cave challenging the I-phone totting photographer to be the devil, pausing mid-song and screeching 'take my picture' and striking a model's pose. Simply the best performance of my music watching life.

O2 Apollo Manchester @

- Manchester @

- Wed 30 Oct 2013 @

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Review 11 for The Bad Seeds

4/5

NC On Fire!

O2 Apollo Manchester @

- Manchester @

- Wed 30 Oct 2013 @

Favourite moment: God Is In The House @

Posted 02/11/2013

by FinnFan

Top 50 Contributor

Great gig. Nick Cave proved just how much of a captivating front-man and story-teller he is.

O2 Apollo Manchester @

- Manchester @

- Wed 30 Oct 2013 @

Favourite moment: God Is In The House @

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Review 12 for The Bad Seeds

5/5

Nick cave and the bad seeds legends

O2 Apollo Manchester @

- Manchester @

- Wed 30 Oct 2013 @

Favourite moment: Mercy Seat and Mermaids and getting up close to the man himself @

Posted 02/11/2013

by Weluvnick

Absolutely brilliant from beginning to end they get better every time we see them, look forward to seeing them next time round,only thing that spoilt it was a few last minutes drunks that turned up and wanted to start a fight.

O2 Apollo Manchester @

- Manchester @

- Wed 30 Oct 2013 @

Favourite moment: Mercy Seat and Mermaids and getting up close to the man himself @

I admit to only really getting into Nick Cave a couple of years ago, thanks to an amazing set at Glastonbury, so this was a night of discovery for me. Not least, I knew more songs than I thought I did, but the entire set was performed in typical Cave style, with his exaggerated sexuality steaming through and pleasing a number of female fans at the front!

They played a few songs from their latest album, as you would expect, but the crowd were overjoyed to hear classics such as Into My Arms, Red Right Hand and the amazing Stagger Lee. In fact, there was a woman just behind me who sobbed through the entirety of Into My Arms.

I got a setlist, but there were songs at the end that weren't listed so if anyone can add them, feel free.

Setlist: We No Who U RJubilee StreetTupeloRed Right HandPapa Won't Leave You, HenryMermaidsFrom Her to EternityWest Country GirlGod Is in the HousePeople Just Ain't No GoodInto My ArmsHiggs Boson BluesHiding All AwayThe Mercy SeatStagger LeePush the Sky AwayWe Real CoolJack the RipperDeannaGive Us a Kiss @

Posted 02/11/2013

by ChFro

Entrancing performance...A frontman like no other...One of the best gigs I have ever seen

O2 Apollo Manchester @

- Manchester @

- Wed 30 Oct 2013 @

Setlist: We No Who U RJubilee StreetTupeloRed Right HandPapa Won't Leave You, HenryMermaidsFrom Her to EternityWest Country GirlGod Is in the HousePeople Just Ain't No GoodInto My ArmsHiggs Boson BluesHiding All AwayThe Mercy SeatStagger LeePush the Sky AwayWe Real CoolJack the RipperDeannaGive Us a Kiss @

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Review 15 for The Bad Seeds

5/5

The Best So Far

O2 Apollo Manchester @

- Manchester @

- Wed 30 Oct 2013 @

Favourite moment: stagge Lee and Tupelo @

Posted 02/11/2013

by Almipal

Location:Manchester

I've seen Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds many times but this was the best to date. Over 2 hours of high energy and ballads. Warren Ellis as always was note perfect and multi skilled. There was approximately 6 tracks from the latest album mixed with lots of favourites from the extensive back catalogueThe encore finished with a new track, a ballad called 'give us a kiss'The Apollo is a great venue.z We all left buzzing.

O2 Apollo Manchester @

- Manchester @

- Wed 30 Oct 2013 @

Favourite moment: stagge Lee and Tupelo @

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Review 16 for The Bad Seeds

5/5

Nick Cave mesmerising

O2 Apollo Manchester @

- Manchester @

- Wed 30 Oct 2013 @

Favourite moment: God is in the house. @

Posted 02/11/2013

by Anonymous

Location:Manchester

First time I've seen Nick Cave with the Bad seeds. He was as captivating as ever. Couple that with an amazingly tight band and it led to an unforgettable evening.

O2 Apollo Manchester @

- Manchester @

- Wed 30 Oct 2013 @

Favourite moment: God is in the house. @

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Review 17 for The Bad Seeds

5/5

Nick Cave was at his best

Eventim Apollo @

- London @

- Mon 28 Oct 2013 @

Favourite moment: All of it @

Posted 01/11/2013

by KittyGP

Location:Clackmannanshire

I went along having wanted to see Nick cave for over 20 years and I wasn't disappointed. He is so full of energy he carries the audience along with him.

Eventim Apollo @

- London @

- Mon 28 Oct 2013 @

Favourite moment: All of it @

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Review 18 for The Bad Seeds

5/5

The Bad Seeds rocked again!

Eventim Apollo @

- London @

- Mon 28 Oct 2013 @

Posted 31/10/2013

by Lucky00

Location:London

Great sound, a pleasure to watch.Even better than 4-5 yrs ago.So refreshing to witness such an event during this period of time.Well done weird looking guys, you have restored my faith in mankind!!Thank you

Eventim Apollo @

- London @

- Mon 28 Oct 2013 @

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Review 19 for The Bad Seeds

5/5

One of the best live shows I've ever seen

Eventim Apollo @

- London @

- Mon 28 Oct 2013 @

Favourite moment: Whole show @

Posted 31/10/2013

by dv8500

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds have a massive rep for their live shows. But I was blown away by how powerful they are. See them if you can.

Eventim Apollo @

- London @

- Mon 28 Oct 2013 @

Favourite moment: Whole show @

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Review 20 for The Bad Seeds

5/5

Eventim Apollo @

- London @

- Mon 28 Oct 2013 @

Posted 31/10/2013

by Anonymous

Staggering in its pomp, sonics, theatre and humour. And that's before you take in the sheer quality of the songs and musicianship. Absolutely bloody marvellous. Nobody does rock and roll as good as this guy. Beg, borrow or steal to see this.